Folding cot



Feb 20, 1951 P.-M. WILLI-:Ns ETAL 2,542,744

FOLDING coT Filed Aug. 5, 1949 l N VE NTORS Paal/1l. Mlle/w,

BY @Mm ATTORNEY zlllllllllllll/la Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y 2,542,744 FOLDING co'r Paul Willens, Arthur F'. Willens, 'and Ira Eason, Miami Beach, Fla.- H

Application August 5, 1949,ser`ia1No. 108,796

This invention relates to a folding cot and more particularly has reference to a .cot which can be easily collapsed and folded into a relatively small unit.

It is an object of the invention to provide a folding cot having a minimum of parts and which can be quickly collapsed and opened with but `little effort and which is sturdy in construction fand neat in appearance.

" Another object of the invention is to provide a cot which can be folded to occupya relatively small storage space and which is light in weight and small in size, whereby theolded cot is easily moved about from place topla'ce.

Still'another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is 1 simple and inexpensive in construction and which .can be easily folded for convenientstorage and vopened up for its intended use.

r Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear from the more detailed description thereof in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

` Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cotin `folded or collapsed position;

Figure 4 is a side view of one o f the brackets for pivotally securing together the main fram `sections Vof the cot;

Figure 5 is a perspective view ofthe bracket of Figure 4v together with its associated supporting .plate for the inner ends of the frame sections; and

thepivotal legs of the cot when the latter is in open position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

vthere is provided at the central portion' of the cot ai U-shaped support I to the upper ends of which f. are secured T-brackets 2. Asibest shown in Fig. 1, the. brackets are providedin pairs, one pair for each leg of the central support. The vertical portionsof the T-brackets are'rmly attached to .the-lends of the leg portionsofsupport I by means .of suitable bolts and'nuts. The frame.- `work of the cot is madeupxof theU-shapedwi symmetrical frame sections 3vand 4 having their inner ends pivotally attached, by means of bolts and nuts, to the horizontalportions of the T'- brackets2 as shown in Figs.,1, 2 and 3. By reaframe sections are free to fold over upon the Claims.

central support I. In theopen position of the cot, the ends of the leg portions of the frame sections rest upon and supported by the plates 'Shaving lugs or projections 6 which t into cor- 6 lresponding openings 'I in the brackets 2, there being a supporting plate 5 within each pair of brackets. The resting surface 8 of the cot may ,be made of any suitable fabric such as canvas, sailcloth or synthetic plastic material and, as Invv shown in Figs. l and 3, it is wrapped around the frame sections and sewed together by suitably strong stitching 9. The end supports I0 and II, like the central support Lfare also U-shape'd. They are piv- Irotally secured, by means of bolts and nuts as shown, to the inner side of the leg portions of the frame sections 3 and 4 a short distance from the 'transverse end portions of the frame members. `Supporting legs Il! and II are of such length as 2o to' terminate short of support I when folded upon the frame sections. The frame sections 3 and 4 `and the supporting legs I, Il] and II are preferably constructed of aluminum tubing in order to provide a cot which is light in weight. The open '.25 ends of lthe tubing are closed by tightly fitting cap members I2. In the case of central support v I, the ends thereof are closed by the plates 5 which also serve as supporting means for the `inner ends of the frame sections when the cot is in open position with the frame sections in end-to-end relationship. The central support I may be provided with a transverse tube or rod `|3 for added strength.

yAn-important feature of the invention is the 'means for bracing-the pivoted legs I Il and Il iwhen the cot is in openposition and permitting these-supports to fold over on the frame sections fwhen the cot is collapsed. The braces are of telescopic construction, `each comprising a tubular member or sleeve I4 and a shaft, rod or 40 tube lslidably mounted therein. The tubular members I4' are pivotally secured, by means of ibrackets I6, to the transverse outer end portions @of the frame sections 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 2, ytlnyare of such length as to extend ver- 45. tically from the transverse portions of the frame ...sections to the transverse portions of U-legs v I0 aand II when the cot is in open position and thus serve as braces forthe end supports of the cot. `Eachof the shafts I5 extends through an open- 504ing II in the transverse portionof its associated; leg,' as shown in Fig. 6, and the lower end thereof is provided with a horizontal extension vI8 or other suitable means for holding the end .gf theshaft theiransversebottom portion .of 55,the U-shaped support. The members I4 and I5 are thus free to slide with respect to each other as the legs I and I I pivot on the frame sections When the cot is collapsed for storage and opened up for use. In assembling the braces into the device, the horizontal extensions I8 are rst inserted in openings I'I, rods I5 are then inserted into sleeves I4 and the latter then pivotally attached to brackets IG. A snap fastening device Igor the like,isspreferablyrprovided at the outer ends of the frame sections to hold2 the cot in folded or collapsed position. In this position,

the cot will stand without support on the endsof:` the leg portions of frame sections 3 and.4,.as.l.

shown in Fig. 3.

The use of the device is obviousffmmthe fortel` going description. To open the cot, the. fastening device I9 is unlocked andthe frame sections. 3 and 4 are spread apart until the ends ofthe leg portions thereof rest upon the plates i. 'Iheisupports I0 and II artthen rotated away from the frame sections until they are-braced by the vtubular membersV III as` shown inllig. 2.. In this position ofthe device, there is provided asturdy and strongly supported cot ofv simple and: pleasingI appearance. To collapse the. cot for' storage, 'supports IIand- II are folded backuponthe frame sections, suchV movement beingv made possibleby the telescopic or sliding arrangement of members I4 and I5; as well as the. pivotal-,attachment of the supports to the frame. sections. Frame sections 3 -andfdfare thenfolded over upon central support I and the ends thereof securedv together byj means'of fastening devices ISI.. this. position, ;the cotA occupies but little space and.w can :easily bemoved about by reason ofi-its.. compactness and light Weight.

V"While we have; illustrated and described but one' embodiment of: the device, it is obvious, that -modifications maybe madetherein without-departing from the spirit andv scope of. theinvention. Forexample, in the caseoi thetelescopic braces for supports I0 and I I, the membersthere- `of'ma-yy be reversed, with the lowerende oftubular .sleeve M pivotally attached to the bottom: transverse portion of the support and the upper r end of the shaft Ivsecurely held in anI opening in the transverse end portion of the .frame section.

Having described our invention, Wez claim:

1;. AA folding cot comprising a pair ofisymmetrical iramcsectionspivotally secured together at l`their-innerends, each of said` frame seotionsha-v.- ing an outer.' transverse portion, a. U-shapedzsupporting leg pivotally attached.` .to eachl of-'said frame sections near theI outerend thereof, a. tu- 'bular -member pivotally-attached to the. outer ltransverse portionv of. eachv ofE said frame sec- I; '2; AV iolding cot oomprisimg acentral 'sup-f j porting membena pairofgsymmetrical frame sec- '.tions pivotally secured to said'membeny at their inner ends, each of said frame' sections having 'anf outer transverse portion, a U-shaped. supporting leg pivotally attached'e to each. of said lfrarnesections nearl the outer end: thereof; a tuihn'lar. member' pivotally attached to: the outer transverse portionfofieach of said-jframe-,sectiona and: a shaft slidably mounted in: each of' said tubular members andpivoted aboutV the* longitudinal axis of the transverse portionof one' of said supporting legs.

3. A folding cot comprising a central supporting member, a pair of T-brackets havingy their 'sect'ion, ar' tubular sleevev pivotally attached'to 'thetransverse portion'of said frame section, and

vsymmetrical frame sections pivotally attached at their-inner ends to the horizontal portion of said bracket, means for holding said sections in endatoi-endrelationship, a U-shaped supporting leg pivotedf to'l the inside of each of said frame sections intermediate. the ends of the latter, a tubular member pivoted to the outer end portion ofleach. of said frame sections, and a shaft slidably mounted in eachjfof said tubular members and vpivotedy about the longitudinal axis, of- -the transverse portion of one of said supporting legs.

v5. A folding. coat comprisinga central support and a pair of cot members pivotally attachedto .said support, eachy of vsaid members comprising a lil-'shaped frame section, a U-shaped supporting leg pivotedA at its ends to the leg portions-of each frame section, atubular sleeve pivotally attached to the transverse portion of the U-shaped frame section, anda shaft slidably mounted in, said sleeve and pivoted about the longitudinall axis of the transverse portion of said U-shaped: leg.

v6. A folding-cot comprising a central support having a'. pair of legs; a pair ofil T-brackets atrthe end of each leg of the support, the vertical portions.- of said braclnats being securely attached toy said legs, a supporting plate mounted'between the brackets of each of said pairs of brackets,.and a pair of cot members associated `with saidV sup- `port and brackets, each of said. members. comprising: a' U-shaped frame section having the endo each of its leg portions pivotally attached to the horizontal portions of the brackets of one of; said pair of; brackets, a U-shaped leg pivoted at its ends to the leg portions of said ramesection, .ai tubularv sleeve pivotally attached to the transverse portion of the frame section, anda Vshaft slidably mounted in said sleeve and. pivotally secured to the transverse portion of said U-shaped leg, the ends'of the leg portions of said frame sections resting on said supporting'plates when the frame sections are extended in end- Vto-endrelationship.

'7. A folding cot comprising apair of symmetrical frame sections. pivotally secured together at their inner ends, each of said frame sections hav.-

ying an outer'transverseportion, a U-shaped supporting-leg pivotally attached' to. each of said 'fram-e'secltions near the outer end thereof, and means fol` bracing each of the supporting legs comprising a tubular member and-a shaft member'slidably mounted in` the tubulanmember, one of said members being pivotallyY attached to the outer transverse portion of the frame sectionv and. theV other' ofA said members. being pivoted aboutit'he longitudinal axisof: the trans verse portion ci' thezU-shaped leg. |82 In a foldingV cot comprising'a U-shapeio frame' section and a .IJ-shaped supporting legl'of rr'i'etal" 'tubing pivotally attached tol said frame a shaftslidably mounted in said sleeve andi extending through an enlarged opening in the mltransverseportion of said' leg, said shaft having t# an angularly projecting end portion disposed within the transverse portion of the leg for retaining the end of the shaft in the tubing of the supporting leg.

9. A folding cot comprising a central support having a pair of legs, a pair of T-brackets at the end of each leg of the support, the vertical portions of said brackets being securely attached to said legs, a supporting plate mounted between the brackets of each of said pairs of brackets, and a pair of cot members associated with said support and brackets, each of said members comprising a U-shaped frame section having the end of each of its leg portions pivotally attached to the horizontal portions of the brackets of one of said pairs of brackets, the ends of the leg portions of said frame sections resting on said supporting plates when the frame sections are extended in end-to-end relationship.

10. In a folding cot comprising a U-shaped frame member of metal tubing, a U-shaped supporting member of metal tubing pivotally attached to the frame member, a tubular sleeve pivotally attached to the transverse portion of one of said U-shaped members, and a shaft slid- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the filel of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,841,648 Sorey 1- Jan. 19, 1932 1,989,324 Levine Jan. 29, 1935 2,215,963 Kampschulte Sept. 24, '1940 2,370,990 Nissen Mar. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 62,159 Norway Mar. l1, 1940 

